Chapter 29: A Lucrative Job Worth a Billion a Month

After hearing the price Yang Jie opened with, Zhao Yan smiled, “Three to fifty thousand a month is just our base pay. If you’re interested in joining us, you can come to the company with me right now.”

Yang Jie nodded so vigorously his head bobbed like a pecking chick. “I’d love to! My name’s Yang Jie!”

Without further ado, Yang Jie got into Zhao Yan’s car, which drove straight toward the outskirts of the city.

When they reached their destination, Yang Jie saw a dilapidated residential building and felt a stab of disappointment—he’d expected a high-rise office instead.

Noticing Yang Jie’s expression, Zhao Yan laughed. “There’s an old saying: ‘All that glitters is not gold.’ A truly capable company doesn’t care about appearances; our goal is to make every employee a billionaire.”

She then launched into a passionate speech, firing Yang Jie up so much he was left dazed and speechless.

While talking, the two of them climbed a narrow, dim staircase to the third floor. Zhao Yan opened a metal door and turned to Yang Jie with a smile. “Please, Mr. Yang, come in.”

The moment Yang Jie entered, he saw a small room packed with dozens of people. Zhao Yan addressed the crowd loudly, “We have a new family member joining us! Let’s welcome him!”

Immediately, the crowd snapped to attention and clapped three times in perfect unison, shouting, “Welcome, welcome, a warm welcome!”

Afterward, they approached Yang Jie one by one to introduce themselves, each offering him a hug and a smile so enthusiastic it made him a little embarrassed.

Yang Jie asked Zhao Yan what his responsibilities would be. Zhao Yan only smiled mysteriously and said he’d find out soon enough, telling him there would be a commendation meeting after lunch. Once that was over, he’d know how to get to work.

During lunch, the employees were all the more enthusiastic—helping him fill his bowl, passing him dishes, and standing up to chant, “Rice every day, a million earned each day!”

Then, after three more synchronized claps, they shouted, “Boss treats us! Everyone treats us! I treat us!”

Yang Jie found this excessive hospitality a bit off-putting and strange, as if something was amiss. It wasn’t until the commendation meeting began that he realized what was wrong.

He hadn’t been back in China long and didn’t know the term “pyramid scheme,” but he wasn’t stupid. The top mercenary king, the Night Owl, wasn’t so easily brainwashed.

Once he saw through the act, his heart leapt with joy. A criminal ring of dozens—surely the reward would be substantial!

The commendation meeting was held right in the room. First, a lecturer-looking man explained their line of work: “We’re engaged in a new industry, internationally certified...”

After a barrage of technical jargon, the lecturer finally got to the point: “New recruits need only pay a thirty-thousand deposit. Then, by recruiting three new members, you’ll be promoted. In less than two years, you’ll be a multimillionaire!”

The crowd, thoroughly brainwashed, erupted into applause, their faces glazed with fanatic devotion.

Yang Jie feigned hypnosis, clapping along with gusto while struggling not to laugh. The meeting was getting more and more entertaining—a kindergarten for adults.

There were interactive games: rock-paper-scissors, word chains, and other children’s games. The losers had to perform.

At last, a slicked-back man who claimed to be the boss took the stage, standing tall and proud. “I won’t waste words. I started as a salesman, and now I’ve earned a billion! Is a billion enough?”

The crowd thundered with applause, shouting, “Not enough, not enough!”

The boss continued, “My today is your tomorrow. Work hard, and each of you will have your own billions!”

Employees then gave speeches, each claiming outrageous monthly earnings—no less than a few million.

Zhao Yan stood beside Yang Jie and smiled, “Mr. Yang, you see what our industry is about now? Here, the poorest is a millionaire.”

Yang Jie nodded. “I understand. I’ll go recruit someone right now.”

He pulled out his phone, found Wang Ying’s number, and called. “Hey, I’ve found a way to make money—I’m inviting you to join…”

After hanging up, Yang Jie strode to the microphone and grinned at the boss. “You just said you have a billion?”

The boss nodded grandly. “One day, you’ll have it too.”

“Who are you trying to fool!” Yang Jie burst out laughing. “How about this: show me your bank balance. If you really have a billion, I’ll take your surname. If not, you’re a coward!”

The room fell silent. Was this guy really challenging the boss?

The boss’s face twitched in anger. “Who are you?”

Yang Jie sneered, “I’m here to check your bank balance.”

Sizing Yang Jie up, the boss forced a laugh. “Looks like our new family member has a sense of humor, ha ha!”

The crowd laughed along. The boss turned to Zhao Yan, “Yan, take our new member to rest in his room. I’ll be there soon.”

As Zhao Yan approached, Yang Jie shoved her aside, strode over, and jabbed a finger at the boss’s nose. “Don’t change the subject. Show me your bank balance!”

An uproar broke out. The boss’s face was livid. “He’s here to cause trouble. Get him!”

Smack!

Before the boss could finish, Yang Jie landed a loud slap on his face. “Beat up your sister! Hand over your bank balance, now!”

Then came an uppercut to the boss’s stomach, doubling him over. Yang Jie grabbed his hair and threw him straight into the oncoming crowd.

Wang Ying was nearly frantic. She couldn’t believe how reckless this kid was—if he’d stumbled into a pyramid scheme den and wanted to report it, shouldn’t he have escaped first? These criminal gangs were not as simple as they looked; a single misstep could cost lives!

Sirens wailed as several police cars pulled up. When Wang Ying led her team inside, she was left speechless by the scene.

The room was strewn with people lying every which way. Yang Jie, unscathed, was squatting on top of the boss, munching on a banana he’d somehow found, grinning at Wang Ying as if nothing had happened.

In truth, Yang Jie was beaming because he’d just done a quick calculation—over thirty people here, at a thousand yuan reward per person, that was at least thirty to fifty thousand coming his way.

“You really are something,” Wang Ying said, relieved to see Yang Jie unharmed.

Yang Jie shrugged and tossed the banana peel aside. “Just making a living.” Then, in front of all the officers, he slung an arm around Wang Ying’s shoulders and whispered with a grin, “Officer Wang, how much will I get paid this time?”

Wang Ying’s cheeks flushed. This guy was putting his arm around her in public and whispering, making it look like something indecent was going on.

“Let go!” Wang Ying brushed his hand off in disgust. “We’ll talk later!”

Yang Jie grinned, “Sure, sure, we’ll talk when we get home.”

Wang Ying froze, realizing she’d misspoken. “We’ll talk at the station!” she corrected herself quickly when she saw the strange looks from her colleagues.

“Right, after the station, then we’ll talk at home!” Yang Jie teased.

“I’m not going home with you! I have work to do at the station!” At this point, Wang Ying would have gladly shot him.

Yang Jie nodded enthusiastically, “Right, right, after the station, when you’re done with work, we’ll talk at home.”

Wang Ying was speechless, silently repeating to herself: “No one’s more shameless than him. No one’s more shameless than him. Truly, no one’s more shameless than him!”

Back at the station, processing so many arrests took until late afternoon.

Yang Jie, meanwhile, wore a look of utter disappointment, clutching a thin stack of bills—no more than two thousand, a far cry from the thirty to fifty thousand he’d expected.

“Sister Wang, could you add a little more?” Yang Jie asked in her office, looking utterly aggrieved.

Wang Ying couldn’t help but laugh. If she hadn’t seen it herself, she’d never have connected the hero who single-handedly took down a massive pyramid scheme with this man pouting like a schoolboy deprived of candy.

“Enough, it’s not up to me. Even though you did the catching, we already had the place under surveillance, and you didn’t tell me the location. By the rules, you’re lucky to get this much,” Wang Ying said, smiling at his pitiful look. “Alright, don’t pout or people will think we’re cheating you. Didn’t I promise you a meal last time? Wait outside for me, I’ll be done in twenty minutes and treat you to a feast as consolation for your wounded soul.”

Yang Jie thought for a moment. “Sister Wang, would you mind if you just gave me the money for the meal instead?”